Sports : Discus, shot put medals for Vikette track meets will honor Monica Huelman Zaruba

Monica Huelman Zaruba's classmates, teammates and friends continue their efforts to help tell her story, and to pass on the legacy of humor, spirit and athletic ability she left behind. The newest tribute to Mo will be on display Tuesday, when the winners of the Vikette home track meet shot put and discus events - events in which Monica, who still holds the VS discus record, excelled - will receive special medals honoring her. Ashley Hesson of Vinton Trophy and Awards made the first of the medals, which the VSHS athletic department plans to present to the winners of those events in home Vikette track meets for the next 10 years. The idea started with Monica's friend and teammate, Lana Elwick. "When Mons passed, I was thinking about how we could honor her on the track, with all of her accomplishments there,"� says Elwick, who was a year behind Monica at VSHS. Elwick mentioned her idea to Vikette track coach Heather Kalous, who also discussed it with Viking coach Joe Johnson. After pondering a variety of options, the group decided that a special medal would be the best way to honor Mo, who died in December at age 40. "This is something that could honor her as the champion she was in track, basketball and volleyball,"� explains Elwick, who was one of Mo's teammates in all of those sports. The new medals, Elwick says, "will also remind the world of what kind of champion Monica was outside of athletics, as a student, a person in the community, a sister, a daughter and a friend to all and especially a friend to me as an underclassmen." "I was very happy with how the medals turned out. Ashley did a great job,"� adds Elwick. Hesson adds: "I love my job. Here's one reason why. I get to work on very cool projects like these medals, honoring a VS alum who meant a great deal to Vinton, the Vinton-Shellsburg school district, and so far beyond." After agreeing on the medal tribute, Elwick sought input from Monica's family for the design of the medal. Several relatives joined Ken and Regina Huelman during the Easter holiday, and they came up with several ideas to present to Hesson. Elwick says she wishes the younger athletes could have known Mo like she did. "We never talked about it, but I think Mons knew I looked up to her and I wanted to learn from her. I don't ever remember a time she made me feel like I was an underclassmen - she always treated me like I was her teammate and a friend,"� says Elwick. "Oh, the laughs that we shared and the times had were unforgettable - we would laugh so hard our sides hurt and tears would be rolling down our faces. And there were times we cried too, and shared those times as well."� Monica, says Elwick, "was always a champion and composed herself like one."� One of Elwick's favorite unique Monica memories began with a forgotten relay team baton. While saying that it would take Monica to help the young athletes to get the full effect of the following story, Elwick explains what happened. "We were at a meet, I believe in independence, and we were getting ready for the throwers 4x100 (a special event in which the field athletes run a relay race). "We had forgotten the baton, but as we were walking along the infield, Mons saw a Pringles can. It was empty and she picked it up and said, "�We've got our baton.' They let us run with it and we were laughing so hard - it will be something I never forget."� While that specific Pringles can did not make it back to Vinton, current Vikette athletes, with the help of volunteer coach RaeAnn Mason, recently presented Elwick a baton with a Pringles label taped on it, in memory of that unique moment. Elwick says she hopes people will also remember that "Mons was a champion in and out of sports."� "I am so lucky to have been a teammate with her; she taught me a lot. I tried to help her and she definitely helped me! Moms will truly be missed, but I hope these medals can reflect the athlete and champion she truly was,"� she says. The medal presentation will also include letting the recipients hear a short synopsis of Mo's legacy. Monica's family may also be involved in presenting the medals to the winners. Monica's Class of 1996 peers continue to work on a bench and tree memorial to be placed in front of the VS Middle School (which was the high school during Monica's VS career). Crystal Pladsen Coder says the bench and tree will be placed when the weather warms up. "We hope to plant on a weekend and then invite the family and members of the class of 1996,"� says Coder.